Journey to the Cross 
Pause
Repeat the following three times. After you have finished, ponder one thing you can rejoice in today:
Breathe in: “This is the day that the Lord has made.”
Breathe out: “I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Listen
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise God in his fortress, the sky! Praise God in his mighty acts! Praise God as suits his incredible greatness! Praise God with the blast of the ram’s horn! Praise God with lute and lyre! Praise God with drum and dance! Praise God with strings and pipe! Praise God with loud cymbals! Praise God with clashing cymbals! Let every living thing praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:1-6
Think
Give it everything you’ve got! That’s what the psalm-writer seems to be saying in today’s reading. You can picture this ancient writer, filled with joy over the “incredible greatness” of the Lord, trying to write down every possible instrument and method of making a joyful noise that he or she knew of. A lute! A lyre! A drum! Ooh, let’s add some dancers and strings and pipe! And, oh my goodness, cymbals, loud, noisy, boisterous, clanging, clashing cymbals!
What a glorious racket that must have been! God’s faithful people throwing themselves fully into the praise, making noise, moving their bodies, giving thanks to the Lord their God for all the goodness God had done. As we read these words, may we do the same: May we give it everything we have, whether it’s our voices, our exquisite guitar-playing, our awe-inspiring dance moves, or our ability to (sort of) clap to the beat. Whatever it is, put your whole self, all your joy, into the moment. Praise the Lord—don’t hold back!
Jennifer Christenson
Question to Ponder:
What joyful noise can you contribute to the world today?
Pray
God, let my praise for you today be loud and exuberant. Help me to inspire others to use their gifts to praise you too.
Amen.
Go
This IS the day that the Lord has made. Listen for the ways God’s creation offers up its praise. Then add your voice to the song, giving praise for all God has done.
